Gabriella Smith was the second oldest of six and "the helper child" of the bunch. She lived up to her family's nickname at home in Alexandria, KY, caring for her three youngest siblings who have special needs. She demonstrated it through church, traveling with teams across Central America to make health care more accessible.
Gabriella hoped to continue helping others as a doctor. She pursued her education at the UK College of Medicine's main campus in Lexington, Ky. In spring 2023, she was expected to graduate with her Doctor of Medicine, which would help her fulfill her dream.
But tragedy struck in 2021. While on a springtime hike at Red River Gorge, Gabriella suffered a 150-foot fall. She died at 24 years old, just halfway through her medical training. This unexpected loss was devastating to her family, the College of Medicine community, and everyone impacted by Gabriella's compassionate nature.
However, this is far from the end of Gabriella's legacy of helping others.
Her parents, Kerensa and Randy Smith, her sister Alexis Fannin, and the UK College of Medicine have come together to honor Gabriella by supporting future medical students who share a similar dream of serving others through medicine. A scholarship has been created in Gabriella's honor to support students "who are walking the journey that she was walking."
The Gabriella Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund will support one or more annual scholarships for incoming medical students at any UK College of Medicine campus who share Gabriella's passion for global health, particularly for students with financial need.
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KY | 7 |
| 2 | CA | 2 |
| 3 | NC | 1 |
